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Acne Treatments: Skincare tips to manage acne-prone skin

One of the biggest questions we get is on natural skincare recommendations for acne. Whether its combination, sensitive or stubborn breakouts that refuse to disappear, dealing with acne prone skin is never easy. A frustrating experience in itself, there is that temptation to do as many acne treatments in the hopes that this will solve the problem. But that often doesn’t work.

There are several causes of acne including hormonal, bacterial, stress, food and allergies. It usually takes some experience over time to understand what is causing your acne. However, to complicate things further, the cause can change over time. Once happy and healthy skin can suddenly be prone to breakouts as a result of hormones or stress.

We previously wrote on moisturisers for your skin type but below are a couple of skincare routine tips that may help you, based on my experience and info from skincare experts. If they do not work, it might be a good shout to check with your doctor or dermatologist.

Use non-foaming cleansers

Cleansers are always a key part of an acne treatment routine as they help to remove dirt and bacteria. Avoid foaming face washes as they can dry out skin and make skin more alkaline leading to increased bacterial activity. Opt for a non-foamy cleanser such as The Organic Pharmacy Peppermint facial washwhich is antibacterial and does not dry out skin.

Avoid the temptation to stress skin out

While the temptation is there to use every recommended product out there, this causes 2 big problems. One is that you wouldn’t know which product works over the other. Secondly and a key factor is that the continuous process of trying to dry out, kill bacteria and strip skin of its protective barrier can cause more problems. Introduce products slowly and use products that calm skin while having antibacterial properties.

It is commonly thought you need products that dry out skin but really, skin needs nourishment and hydration. Spot treatments help in reducing spots but can be harsh and dry out skin. Look out for spot treatments that do not irritate skin and has calming ingredients such as aloe

Exfoliate

Exfoliation forms a key part of acne treatment as it removes dead cells and limit the outbreak of more spots. It is important to know which ingredient to look out for and if you have sensitive skin. Go for glycolic acid and salicylic acid, which help to get rid of dead cells, encourage cell turnover and reduce blocked pores. Glycolic acid is a form of alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) and works on the surface of skin while salicylic acid is a form of beta hydroxyl acid (BHA) and works at a deeper level. It is generally advised to use milder forms of these acids to see how your skin reacts to it before trying stronger acids.

Oils aren’t all bad

There is a common misconception that those with oily and acne-prone skin should avoid oils at all cost to limit the outbreak. However, oils differ very much in texture, source and effect on skin. Opt for natural plant-based oils as they do not clog pores, nourish skin and they do not break you out. On the other hand, avoid products with petroleum-based ingredients such as mineral oil, paraffin and paraffin liquidum. Examples of natural oils known to be beneficial to acne-prone skin include rosehip oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed and evening primrose oil. If you’re skin is also sensitive, best to test these oils out before purchasing them.